to complete a simple task (ex: this year's challenge is for teams to create a machine to dispense appropriate amount of hand sanitizer into hand)
getting a styrofoam cup from point a to point b without touching it with your hands
artistic students could illustrate rather than construct their own Rube Goldberg machines ( view illustrations by the engineer /cartoonist Rube Goldberg)
Show the Honda Commercial (200+ parts of a honda)
6. Problem solving (CSI)...hair analysis, fingerprint, chromatography
7. To focus on a specific step of the engineering process ( Created a separate page and put 5 brainstorming activities that could be used when the instructor feels the need to teach brainstorming)
8. Use video clips to motivate, set purpose for, and show real life applications of challenges. (online portfolio)
10. Here's something really cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy5g33S0Gzo this is a robot that was designed to fold a towel. Now, it takes something like 22 minutes to fold a single towel, but what a cool idea! Kids could view this as a part of a robotics activity as a motivator........ (If the video won't play, try the link...)
11. I found this idea on a VA website- have students design the ultimate Smores packaging...They have to design a package to hold a marshmallow, graham cracker square, and square of chocolate. It has to withstand heat and getting wet...I think they held a hairdryer 6 inches from the top of the package for 30 seconds, and poured 2 cups of water over the top of the package sitting on a "pedestal". Here is the link to the PDF activity: Smores Activity
Here is a related resource link to a similar activity: "Using Solar Power to cook a S'more" http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfe.zsolar/
Brainstorming :
3. Soundproofing materials
4. Simple machine and inventions activities ( pulleys, lever, wedge, etc...) http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/InventorsToolbox.html
5. Rube Goldberg (www.rube-goldberg.com)
6. Problem solving (CSI)...hair analysis, fingerprint, chromatography
7. To focus on a specific step of the engineering process ( Created a separate page and put 5 brainstorming activities that could be used when the instructor feels the need to teach brainstorming)
8. Use video clips to motivate, set purpose for, and show real life applications of challenges. (online portfolio)
9. Check out this website: http://www.mos.org/exhibits_shows/live_presentations&d=722 tons of really cool engineering challenge ideas for kids ( and are geared to be done in groups, and last for 20 min.) Wow!!
10. Here's something really cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy5g33S0Gzo this is a robot that was designed to fold a towel. Now, it takes something like 22 minutes to fold a single towel, but what a cool idea! Kids could view this as a part of a robotics activity as a motivator........ (If the video won't play, try the link...)
11. I found this idea on a VA website- have students design the ultimate Smores packaging...They have to design a package to hold a marshmallow, graham cracker square, and square of chocolate. It has to withstand heat and getting wet...I think they held a hairdryer 6 inches from the top of the package for 30 seconds, and poured 2 cups of water over the top of the package sitting on a "pedestal". Here is the link to the PDF activity: Smores Activity
Here is a related resource link to a similar activity: "Using Solar Power to cook a S'more" http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfe.zsolar/